Apparatus for tufting skip-stitch patterns



April 9, 1963 .1. l.. CARD 3,084,644

APPARATUS PoR TUPTTNG SKIP-STITCH PATTERNS Filed March 25, 1Z9$0 5 Sheets-Smeg.

' l ATTgNEY April 9, 1963 J. L. CARD 3,084,644

APPARATUS Foa TUFTTNG SKIP-STITCH PATTERNS Filed March 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 9, 1963 J. l.. CARD 3,084,644

APPARATUS FOR TUFTING SKIP-STITCH PATTERNS Filed March 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gzzz IZZ 12A@ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Tenn., assignor to Tenn., a corporation This invention relates to an apparatus for forming patterned tufted pile fabric and more particularly for forming novel skip-stitch patterns in a tufted pile fabric.

Although it is old in the art of :skip-stitching tufted pile fabrics generally to selectively lock and unlock a needle to a continuously reciprocating needle bar to selectively form skip-stitches in a base fabric, and it is old to intermittently feed a base fabric at a faster rate than normal beneath a continuously reciprocating needle, this invention contemplates the combination of these two methods of skip-stitching in a novel manner to form a variety of unique skip-stitch patterns in a tufted pile fabric.

One object of this invention is to provide a multiple needle tufting machine having two rows of transverse needles, the needles in one row being fixed to the continuously reciprocating needle bar, while the needles in the other row are selectively locked to the needle bar, as the base fabric is continuously fed beneath the reciprocating needle bar and intermittently overfed to form a variety of staggered skip-stitches of dierent lengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for lforming novel skip-stitch designs in a base fabric in which a plurality of groups of needles are mounted on a continuously reciprocating needle bar, each group comprising a pair of transversely aligned needles fixed to `the needle bar with a third needle equally spaced between but out of alignment with the pair of needles, and means are provided to selectively lock and unlock the third needle to the needle bar in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

A further object of Ithis invention is to provide a multiple needle tufting machine for forming novel skip-stitch designs in a tufted pile fabric comprising a `group of three needles, the first and second needles being in transverse alignment and adapted to continuously reciprocate through the base fabric while the third needle is spaced equally between 4and in front of the first two needles and adapted to be selectively reciprocated through the base fabric according to a predetermined pattern, the third needle Ibeing adapted to be adjusted at different heights r from the first two needles and adapted ,to carry a yarn of a different characteristic from the yarns carried by the first two needles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple needle tufting machine employing means for continuously feeding a base fabric at a uniform rate beneath a first set of continuously reciprocating needles and a second `set of needles which are adapted to selectively reciprocate through the base fabric and means for intermittently feeding the base fabric faster than the uniform rate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple needle tufting machine employing a flrst set of needles adapted to reciprocate continuously, a second set of needles adapted to selectively reciprocate and a yarn clamp of novel design for intermittently clamping yarns of one size fed to their corresponding needles in the first set and for simultaneously clamping yarns of any size fed to the needles of the second set.

4Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

to the locking pin 23.

dfidd Patented Apr. 9, 1963 FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation taken through the machine made in accordance with this invention, looking toward the left end of the machine;

lFIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation taken near the right end of the machine, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of substantially the same portion of the machine disclosed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3, disclosing the parts for operating the overrunning feed clutch in ful-l view;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line S-5 of FIG. 1, dis-closing the controlled needles locked to the needle bar and the yarn clamp in releasing position;

FIG. 6 is a `section taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is -a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the yarn clamp in clamping position;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the pattern control mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in detail, the tufting machine made in accordance with this invention comprises a frame or `housing 13 supporting in a conventional manner a rotary transverse main drive shaft y14 upon which are fired 4a plurality of spaced eccentrics 15, only one of which is disclosed in FIG. 1. Each eccentric 15 is adapted to vertically reciprocate a push rod 1-6 through a push rod housing 17 by means of a connecting rod 18. Supported at the lower ends of and adapted to reciprocate with the push rods 16, is a transverse needle bar 19. The main shaft 14 may be driven to rotate at a continuous speed by any convenient drive means, such as a motor, not shown.

The needle bar 19 supports a transverse row of uniformly spaced fixed needle holders Z1. Spaced forward of the needle holders 21 is a parallel row of uniformly spaced controlled needle holders 22. For every pair of fixed needle holders 21 there is a controlled needle holder 22 spaced equally between the pair of needle holders 21, so that the spacing of the controlled needle holders 22 is `twice the spacing of the fixed needle holders Z1, and the needle holders 22 are staggered, -both longitudinally and transversely, with respect to the needle holders 21. Each controlled needle holder 22 is slidaoly received within the needle bar 19 and is adapted to be selectively locked and unlocked to the needle bar 19 by means of a locking pin 2,3. Each locking pin 23 is biased into engagement with a notch in its respective needle holder 22 by means of a spring 24, so that the needle holder 22 will be locked to and vertically reciprocate with the needle bar 19.

Each locking pin 23 may be withdrawn from its notch in its respective needle holder 22 by means of a solenoid 25 having an armature 26 pivotally connected to a link 27, which in turn is permanently fixed at its other end The solenoids 25 are supported in transverse alignment on a bracket 28 mounted on the rear of the housing 13j, so that each solenoid 25 will be substantially directly behind its corresponding locking pin 23. Each solenoid 25 is grounded to the frame 13 and connected by an electrical lead 29 or 291 to a corresponding pattern finger 30 or 301 biased into engagement with the surface of the pattern sheet 31 or the corresponding notches 32 or 321 in the pattern sheet 3d mounted on the rotatable pattern drum 33, supported on the rear of the housing 13. In a conventional manner, each finger 30 or 301 is provided with an electrical contact so that a complete electrical circuit is made when a pattern finger 30 or 301 engages its corresponding notch 32 or 321 to actuate the corresponding solenoid 25 and draw the armature 26, link Z7 and locking pin 23- toward the rear of the machine to unlock the corresponding controlled needle holder 22. Thus, the unlocked needle holder 22 remains in raised position by inertia and the assistance of the upwardly biased spring 34, while the needle bar 19 reciprocates downward, carrying all the fixed needle holders Z1 and the locked controlled needle holders 22.

Each of the fixed needle holders 21 supports a needle 35, while each controlled needle holder 22 supports a needle S6, preferably of slightly larger diameter than the needle 35, to reciprocate through a base fabric $8.

The base fabric 3-8 is continuously fed through the machine beneath the needles 35 and 36 from front to rear by means of the front fabric feed rolls 39 and its and the rear fabric feed rolls 41, 42, and 43. In a conventional rnanner, the top rear fabric feed roll 41 is continuously driven, as opposed to being intermittently driven, by any conventional means, such as a chain or belt within the housing d4 for connecting the main drive shaft 14 and the feed roll 41 by means of sprockets or pulleys, not shown. The fabric feed rolls 41, 42 and d3 are positively driven at the same speed by intermes'ning gears, not shown. By continuously feeding the base fabric 35, as opposed to intermittently feeding the fabric, the reciprocating needles 35 and 36 will remain in the fabric 38 too brief a period to tear the fabric, but long enough to produce a desirable tension in the fabric. Supporting the base fabric 38 beneath the needles 35 and 36 is a conventional needle plate '55 having slots de to permit passage of the needles 35 and 36, the needle plate 45 in turn being supported on the bed plate 47. A presser foot 4d is also supported on the frame 13 to hold the base fabric 38 down against the needle plate 45.

Mounted on the front of the housing 13 are an upper pair of yarn feed rolls 49 adapted to be continuously rotated by any convenient means, not shown, but preferably synchronized with the main shaft 14, to continuously feed yarns t) to the fixed needles 35. Mounted below the upper yarn rolls 49 are a similar pair of yarnv feed rolls 51, also adapted to be continuously rotated in a similar manner, to feed yarns 52 to the forward controlled needles 36. The yarns 5t) and 52 may be fed over appropriate yarn guides 53` and 54 of any conventional construction and subsequently through a yarn clamp 55 of novel construction, which will later be described.

Adapted to cooperate with each fixed needle 35 in a conventional manner to hold loops in the yarn 5t)l formed by the penetration of the needle 35 through the base fabric 38, is a cut pile hook 60. Cooperating with the hook 69 is a knife 61 adapted to shear the loops to form cut pile tufts 62. In a like manner, a cut pile hook 63 and a knife 64 are provided to cooperate with each of the locked controlled needles 36 to form cut pile tufts 65 in the yarn 52. As previously stated, the controlled needles 36 are staggered forward of the iixed needles G5, and preferably are of larger diameter than the fixed needles 35. Moreover, the needles 36 are preferably mounted slightly lower than the fixed needles 36 in order that the cut pile tufts `65 formed by the needles 36 will be of greater depth than the cut pile tufts 62 formed by the needles 35. Accordingly, the hooks 60 and 63 are arranged substantially vertically beneath their respective needles 35 and 36 and have the same relative staggered spacing and depth as their respective needles, as disclosed in FIG. 1. The hooks '63 are slightly longer than the hooks 602 and are mounted in their proper spaced relation in a common hook bar 66 supported on a rocker arm 67 adapted to be reciprocated by means of the hook shaft 68. The knives 61 and 64 are likewise spaced and staggered from each other and set at the proper depth to cooperate with their respective hooks `6l]- and `63 in order to shear the yarn loops to form respectively the low cut pile tufts 62 and the high cut pile tufts 65. The knives 6,1 and 64 are respectively supported in knife holders 69 and 7d which are mounted on a common knife shaft 71 for limited reciprocation. The hook shaft 68 is driven by any con- Venient means, not shown, synchronously with the main shaft 14. The knife shaft 71 is reciprocated from the hook shaft 6% through the rock shaft 72 and links 73, 74 and 75.

At regular predetermined intervals, the base fabric 3?, is overfed, or fed more rapidly than normal, by means of a mechanism for rotating the intermediate rear fabric feed roll 42 at a faster rate than the fabric feed roll il is normally driven, in order to create regularly spaced skip-stitches l23 formed by the xed needles 35, such as disclosed in FlG. l0. Such a mechanism for periodically speeding up the rotation of the fabric feed roll 42 comprises an overrunning clutch 79 of any conventional construction, such as a cam clutch of the PB series disclosed on page 139 of Catalog SP-62 of the Morse Division of Borg-Warner Corporation, supported in a bracket 3S mounted on the rear of the housing 13 with its shaft 8d disposed transversely of the machine, as best disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 4. The shaft Si is drivingly connected to the fabric feed roll 42 by means of a sprocket 52, mounted on the shaft '81, a chain 83, and a sprocket Se xed on one end of the fabric feed roll 42. In order to periodically actuate the overrunning clutch 79, a lever fixed to and depending from the housing of the clutch 79 is adapted to be pivoted about the axis of the shaft iii by means of a slidable push rod 85 carrying a cam follower 87 which rides on a cam 88 fixed to a vertical cam shaft 89 rotatably supported in bearings 9@ and 91. Near the top of the cam shaft $9 is a gear 92 which meshes with a worm 93 on the end of the main drive shaft i4. Thus, as long as the main shaft 14 is driven, the cam shaft 89 and cam 88 will be continuously rotated to intermittently actuate the cam follower S7, push rod Se and lever 85 to cause the overrunning clutch 79 to periodically grip and rotate the shaft 81 in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 4), faster than it is normally rotated by the roll y42, through the sprockets '82 and Se and chain d3. The housing of the clutch 79 may be provided with inner cam surfaces or pawls for gripping the shaft fili through balls or ratchet teeth when the housing 79 is rotating in the direction of the arrow disclosed in FIG. 4. Reverse rotation of the clutch 79 will release the grip of the housing on the shaft 81, so that the shaft 31 may rotate independently of the clutch housing. The overrunning clutch 79 operates in a conventional manner, permitting the shaft 81 to continuously rotate at a normal speed until the lever 85 is'factuated to cause the clutch 79 to grip and accelerate the shaft SI1.

The yarn clamp 55 comprises three concentric cylinders 94, 95, and l96. The largest or outer cylinder 94 is rigidly held by the brackets 97 supported on the needle bar 19, in order that the clamp 55 will reciprocate as a unit with the needle bar 19. The inner or smallest cylinder 96 is adjustably fixed at its left end to the outer cylinder 94 by means of a bolt 9S extending through an elongated slot 99 in the end of the cylinder 94, through a spacer 100 and threadedly secured in the hole 101 tapped in the end of the cylinder 96. The intermediate cylinder 95 is adapted to be slidably reciprocated within the space between the outer and inner cylinders 94 and 96, respectively. In its normal unclarnped position, disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6, all three cylinders have vertically aligned apertures to permit the free passage of yarns 50 and 52 therethrough, there being a set of vertically 4aligned apertures for each needle, with approximately the same spacing as the needle holders 21 and 22. In the outer cylinder 94 there are small apertures 192 to permit the passage therethrough of the yarns 52 to the controlled needles 36, with the same gauge as the controlled needle holders 22. Also formed in the outer cylinder 9d are clearance apertures 193, which are substantially twice as large as the apertures 102, for receiving the passage of yarns 5t)1 to the fixed needles 35. In the intermediate cylinder 95, the apertures 154 for receiving the yarns 52 and the apertures for receiving the yarns Sti are of slightly greater diameter than their respective yarns. The inner cylinder 9&5y is provided with clearance apertures 166 for the yarns 52 and smaller apertures .167 for the yarns 56, each aper ture 107 being just large enough to permit the free passage of the yarn 50 and each aperture 106` having about twice the diameter of the aperture 197. As best disclosed in the unclamped or yarn releasing position of FIG. 6, the apertures 103, 1115 and `107 are in vertical alignment to permit the free passage therethrough of a yarn 50, and the apertures 102, 194 and 1616 are in vertical alignment to permit the free passage of a yarn 52. It will be noted that the clearance aperture 103 for the yarn 59 is in the outer cylinder 941, while the clearance aperture 1016 for the yarn 52 is in the inner cylinder 96. Thus, when the intermediate cylinder 95 is moved to the left, as disclosed in FIG. 7, the yarn fitI will be clamped or pinched only between the intermediate cylinder 95 and the inner cylinder 96, and the yarn 52 will be clamped only between the intermediate cylinder 95 and the outer cylinder 94. The adjustability of the outer cylinder 94- with respect to the inner cylinder 96, by means of the bolt 93 and elongated slot 99, permits variation in yarn sizes for either or both sets of yarns 50 and 52, passing through the yarn clamp 55 with even clamping of both yarns 5d and 52.

ln order to reciprocate the intermediate cylinder 95 axially of the other cylinders 94 and 96, a cam 103 is fixed to the lower end of the cam shaft S9, and is adapted to actuate a cam follower .109 and push rod 119 to pivot a lever 111 about a pin 112 mounted on the frame 13 (FiGS. 2 and 8). The right end of the intermediate cylinder 95 is connected to a slide member 117 vertically slidable in a guide block 113 fixed to link 113, which is pivotally connected to lever i111 by the pin 114. Continuous rotation of the cam shaft S9 will cause the raised portion of the cam 10S to periodically actuate the cam follower 109 and move the intermediate cylinder 95 toward the left to clamp the yarns Sil and 52 until the raised surface of the cam 163 disengages the cam follower 199 and the spring 115 biases the lever 111, link 113, and intermediate cylinder 9S back toward the right and the normal unclamped position of the yarn clamp 55, disclosed in FIGS. and 6.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

With a pattern sheet 31, having any desired configuration of notches 32 and 321, such as that disclosed in FG. 9, fitted on the pattern drum 33, the motor, not shown, is started to drive the main shaft 14, the rock shaft 72, the yarn feed -rolls 49 and 51, t he rear fabric feed roll 41 and the pattern drum 33. Continuous rotation of the main shaft 14 will not only cause the needle bar 19 to reciprocate vertically above the continuously fed base fabric 33, but will also drive the cam shaft 89 to actuate the overrunning feed clutch 79 and the yarn clamp 55 simultaneously and periodically. FlG. l() discloses a tufted fabric 38 which has been periodically overfed every fourth stitch. In order to produce this effect, drive shaft -14 is geared to the cam shaft S9 through the gears 92 and 93, and the cam 83 is of such configuration that for every four revolutions of the drive shaft 14, the cam 88 will thrust the cam follower 8'7, push -rod 86 and lever 85 to the right, as disclosed in FIG. 4, to actuate the overruning clutch 79, which in turn will momentarily accelerate the rotation of the fabric feed roller 42. This action produces the spaces between each group of four stitches disclosed in FiG. l0. The gears 92 and 93 could be designed so that the shaft 14 makes four revolutions for one revolutio-n of the cam shaft 89. Thus, for a four to one gear ratio, the cam 88 would be provided with a single raised surface similar to the raised surface of the cam 103 disclosed in FIG. 8. It is, of course, also within the scope of this invention for the gear ratio between 92 and 93 to be eight to one, in which event the cam SS would have a pair of raised surfaces formed on the edge of the cam 88 at 180 from each other. Thus, for every eight revolutions of the shaft 14,

6 the cam shaft 89 would rotate once and actuate the overrunning clutch 79 on each half revolution.

But assuming that the gear ratio of 93 and 92 is four to one, then the cam 88 will actuate the overrunning clutch '79 for each revolution of the cam shaft S9, and simultaneously the cam 108 will lactuate the intermediate cylinder to clamp the yarns in the position as disclosed in FIG. 7, by means of the mechanism disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 8. It is thus seen that the yarn clamping mechanism 55 operates periodically and synchronously with `the overrunning fabric feed mechanism so that all the yarns 50 and 52 are clamped while the fabric 38 is being accelerated, regardless of whether the needle bars 22 are locked or unlocked by the pattern control mechanism 26-33. Thus, as the fabric 3S is over-fed and the yarns 59 and 52 are clamped every fourth stitch, the last leg of the third stitch of the cut tuft is removed. Without this synchronizing operation, a long stitch of yarn yor tail would remain on the fabric 38 and would have to be removed by hand or other mechanisms known as tail pickers.

In the particular pattern sheet 31, disclosed in FIG. 9, there are only two rows of slots 32 and 321. The slots -in each row are equally spaced and the slots 321 are staggered with respect to the slots 32. Actually, yonly the two pattern fingers 39 and 301 are in operation, so that the pattern finger 30 is connected through the electrical wire 29 to each odd alternate solenoid 25, while the even alternating solenoids- '25 are electrically connecte-d to the pattern finger 301 through lead 291. Thus, when the machine is in operation, the pattern fingers 30 and 301 will alternate in engaging their respective slots 32 and 321, so that each odd needle holder 22 will be locked -to the needle bar 19, while the alternating even needle holders 22 will be unlocked in raised position to form skip-stitches. The pattern of the controlled needle stitches is disclosed in FIG. l0, where 121 represents three consecutive stitches made by an odd controlled needle 36, while the stitches 122 are formed by the alternating even controlled needles 36, in accordance with the arrangement of the notches 32 and 321 in the pattern sheet 31. While the controlled needles 36 are alternately being locked and unlocked to the icontinuously reciprocating needle bar 19, all the fixed needles 35 lare being continuously reciprocated through the base fabric 38 to form the stitches 123.

It will be noted that the skipped space between each group of stitches 123 in the same row is caused by overfeeding the fabric 38 by accelerating the rotation of fabric feed roll d2, while the additional spacing between the groups of stitches 121 and 122 in `any one row is caused by the pattern control mechanism. By varying the length and arrangement 0f the notches 32, 321, or by including additional rows of notches in the pattern sheet 31 and rearranging the electrical circuits, varied spacing may be obtained between the groups of stitches 121 and 122. However, the basic pattern of stitching 121 or 122 in substantially the center of an imaginary square having a group of stitches 123 at each corner, remains constant.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore lthe invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specication, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a tnfting machine including needles for stitching a plurality of yarns through a base fabric `to form tufts therein, means -for reciprocating said needles, fabric feed rolls, means for continuously driving said rolls to feed said fabric beneath said needles at a predetermined rate, an overrunning clutch operatively connected to one of said fabric feed rolls for moving said fabric faster than said predetermined rate, first cam means operatively connected to said reciprocating means `for periodically overrunning said clutch, a yarn clamp comprising clampesencia ing elements movable between an unclamping position to permit the passage therethrough of said yarns to their respective needles and a yarn clamping position, second cam means operatively connected to said first cam means for periodically moving said elements to clamping position -to clamp said yarns when said clutch is being overrun.

2. In a tufting machine including needles for `stitching a plurality of yarns through a base fabric to form tufts therein, means for reciprocating said needles, fabric feed rolls, means for continuously driving said rolls to feed said fabric beneath said needles at a predetermined rate, an overrunning clutch operatively connected to one of said rolls for moving said fabric faster than said predetermined rate, a cam shaft, means for operatively con-v necting said cam shaft to said needle reciprocating means for rotating said cam shaft, a first cam on said cam shaft, a first cam follower engaging said rst cam and operatively connected to said overrunning clutch, a second cam on said cam shaft, a yarn clamp comprising concentric telescoping cylinders having in unclamped position aligned apertures therethrough to permit the passage of said yarn to their respective needles, a second cam follower engaging said second cam and being operatively connected to one of said cylinders for axial reciprocation, means for driving said cam shaft whereby said lirst cam follower actuates said clutch to accelerate said fabric feed and said second cam follower simultaneously reciprocates said one cylinder to clamping position for disaligning said apertures to clamp said yarns.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said means for reciprocating said needles comprises a drive shaft, gears operatively connecting said drive shaft to said cam shaft, the ratio of said gears providing a multiple number of drive shaft revolutions for each cam shaft revolution.

4. The invention according to claim 2 in which a lever is fixed to said clutch and said rst cam follower comprises a push rod for engaging said lever to overrun said clutch.

5. The invention according to claim 2 in which a lever is pivotally mounted upon vsaid machine, said one reciprocating cylinder is pivotally connected to said lever and said second cam follower engages said lever, whereby said lever is pivotally reciprocated upon rotation of said second cam for reciprocating said one cylinder.

6. In a tufting machine including needles for stitching al plurality of yarns of different sizes through a base fabric to form -tufts therein, means for reciprocating said needles, means for continuously feeding said base fabric beneath said needles at a predetermined rate, means for periodically overfeeding said fabric faster than said pre-determined rate, a yarn clamp comprising an outer cylinder, an intermediate cylinder and an inner cylinder concentrically arranged, said intermediate cylinder being adapted to telescopingly reciprocate between said outerI and inner cylinders, a first set of aligned apertures in all said cylinders to permit the passage of a iirst yarn of one size therethrough, a second set of aligned apertures eX- tending through all said cylinders to permit the passage of a yarn of another size therethrough, the aperture in said outer cylinder in said iirst set being substantially larger than the apertures in said intermediate and inner cylinders of said first set, the aperture in said inner cylinder in said second set being substantially larger than the apertures in said intermediate and outer .cylinders in said second set, means for adjustably securing said outer and inner cylinders in axial relationship, and means for periodically reciprocating said intermediate cylinder to clamp said rst and second sets of yarns simultaneously with the overfeeding of-said fabric.

7. rThe invention according to claim 6 in which the means for reciprocating said needles comprises a needle bar extending transversely of said machine for supporting said needles, said outer cylinder being mounted on and parallel to said needle bar.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,522 Gladish Apr. 14, 1931 1,830,463 Foster et al Nov. 3, 1931 1,984,330 Boyce Dec. 11 1934 `1,984,331 Boyce Dec. 1l, 1934 2,171,825 Bradwell Sept. 5, 1939 2,176,957 Covell Oct. 24 1939 2,311,802 Windham Feb. 23, 1943 2,679,218 Jones May 25, 1954 A 2,707,446 McCutchen May 3, 1955 

1. IN A TUFTING MACHINE INCLUDING NEEDLES FOR STITCHING A PLURALITY OF YARNS THROUGH A BASE FABRIC TO FORM TUFTS THEREIN, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID NEEDLES, FABRIC FEED ROLLS, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY DRIVING SAID ROLLS TO FEED SAID FABRIC BENEATH SAID NEEDLES AT A PREDETERMINED RATE, AN OVERRUNNING CLUTCH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FABRIC FEED ROLLS FOR MOVING SAID FABRIC FASTER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED RATE, FIRST CAM MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY OVERRUNNING SAID CLUTCH, A YARN CLAMP COMPRISING CLAMPING ELEMENTS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN UNCLAMPING POSITION TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF SAID YARNS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE NEEDLES AND A YARN CLAMPING POSITION, SECOND CAM MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST CAM MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY MOVING SAID ELEMENTS TO CLAMPING POSITION TO CLAMP SAID YARNS WHEN SAID CLUTCH IS BEING OVERRUN. 